HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: The Detroit Pistons aren’t kind on coaches –but I suppose new sideline boss Lawrence Frank is aware of this.

Whether because of Executive Joe Dumars or the team’s temperamental players, the Pistons have chewed up and spit out seven coaches in eleven years. Many of those coaches left on bad terms; a few had awful experiences.

Frank knows this. He also knows what he has –or doesn’t have. The Pistons are a mediocre team, with several players who may resist his defense-first approach.

Still, Frank has one of the NBA’s thirty head coaching gigs. After getting fired by the New Jersey Nets and spending time as an assistant with Doc Rivers' Boston Celtics, Frank is back in ‘The Big Chair’.

Wells, who spent some time in China before last playing professionally in Puerto Rico, was one of a few reclamation projects the Knicks had at the MSG Training Center late last week for a minicamp to get a look at some possible training camp invitees. With little to no money to spend this offseason (depending on the system in the next collective bargaining agreement), the Knicks have to be creative in finding talent to upgrade the roster.

HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Are the New York Knicks so desperate they’re considering a player who has been out of the NBA for three years? Or, are the Knicks being thorough by looking at a talented but troubled swing?

The player is Bonzi Wells. He had a cup of coffee with the Detroit Pistons; spent his formative years with the Jail Blazers; got suspended and banned from the arena by the Memphis Grizzlies; turned down $35 million from the Sacramento Kings; then somehow ended up plying his trade in China

Along the way, Wells, fair or not, earned a reputation for being a bad seed. His off-the-court issues and fluctuating weight overshadowed his considerable skill and scoring ability.

Of course, Wells could play.

Former teammate Scottie Pippen once compared his ability to score, especially on the low block, to former star Mark Aguirre.

Word is Wells can still play. Even if he’s in his mid thirties. The former Ball State star has been scrimmaging and doing a little coaching on the side.

Perhaps Wells could help. Perhaps not. But the Knicks have nothing to lose and everything to gain with a workout.

--Oly Sandor.

Agree or disagree? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

The Lakers have the best player, but Boston's depth of big-time playmakers will prevail in a game like this. I count eight Celtics -- the four current or former All-Stars in their starting lineup, plus Rasheed Wallace, Glen Davis, Nate Robinson’s and little-used Michael Finley, a three-point shooter with the potential to become this game's Steve Kerr -- who have it in them to make the big shot. The absence of Kendrick Perkins may create more offense for the Celtics, and they'll make up for his rebounding with a team effort led by Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo. Anticipate nothing less than a tightly wound classic played to a tempo that suits Boston.

Consider their road to the NBA Finals. First, they took out Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat -despite some questionable tactics from Kevin Garnett. They made the Cleveland Cavaliers – the NBA’s best team in the regular season – implode, which, unfortunately, gave us an extra month of The LeBron Watch. They then coolly took out the Orlando Magic, the reigning Eastern Conference champions, in six games.

This was a most improbable run for a club that was supposedly dead, gone, and over at mid-season. Clearly, they saved their best for last, though.

The green-and-white have now pushed the defending champion and heavily favoured Lakers to the limit. The secret to Boston’s success: inspired team play on the defensive end.

Doc Rivers’ crew is an all-time great defensive team. They can hang with any of Phil Jackson’s Chicago teams that had notable defenders like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Horace Grant/Dennis Rodman. And they hold their own against Detroit’s Bad Boys and any of Pat Riley’s squads in Los Angeles or New York.

Offensively, somebody different carries the load each night. For instance, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Rajon Rondo have all had moments.

Of course, reserves Glen Davis and Nate Robinson – also known as Shrek and Donkey - won game four of the NBA Finals. And the defending Sprite Slam Dunk Champion went off in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals, too.

That said, the Lakers have the edge in the decisive game-seven. Here’s why:

1) Home-court matters: The purple-and-gold is a different team at home. They’re confident. They’re nasty. And they’re arrogant.

2) No Perk’: The Celtics will miss Kendrick Perkins. They lack the size to win the paint, and contain Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.

3) Kobe Bryant: He’s the best player on either team. He’s the best player in the NBA. And he understands tonight is a legacy game.

Bryant – if he wants to be considered an all-time great – can’t afford a loss. After all, five championships are far better than four. And two losses to the arch rival Celtics in the NBA Finals would be devastating.

Expect Bryant to drop a Jordan-like effort. And HoopsVibe News expects the Lakers to win.

Prediction for game-seven of the 2010 NBA Finals: Lakers 95, Boston 88.
Got thoughts? What is your prediction for game-seven of the NBA Finals?